Dates: August 28 - September 5, 2008
Starting Place: Kos Island, Greece
Airport: Kos Airport
Price: $2800.00 (airfare to Greece and Kos not included)
Latitude: Kos 36 N

Style: This sea kayaking Trip is for folks with previous paddling experience who'd like to further improve their paddling skills and maybe even challenge themselves among rock gardens and in surf. We will use mostly high performance NDK fiberglass single kayaks. A few doubles are also available. On this warm water trip our route and timetable will be subject to change in accordance with the weather and paddlers' abilities. We plan to stay at local guest houses where delicious Greek meals are served. The warm Mediterranean climate is ideal for practicing technical paddling skills, working on rescues and kayak surfing. A BCU certified coach (level 4) will join us on this expedition. Enjoy colorful scenery, historical sites and a unique infusion of Asian and Greek culture.

Day 1: Welcome to Kos Town and the Dodecanese Islands of Greece!  Our trip starts at 10:00 a.m. at hotel YIORGOS. Most flights arrive either late in the evening or very early in the morning. Please let us know your arrival time and whether you would like for us to book you a room an extra night. Cabs from the airport range between 25-30 Euro (30 minute ride). You might also be able to catch a bus from the airport to the Town of Kos. All cabs within Kos Town usually cost 5 Euro.

Today you will meet the Crossing Latitudes leader and our "local" guides (BCU certified kayak instructors but not necessarily from Greece). After introductions, a trip orientation and a snack we will make sure everyone has all the necessary equipment for our adventure. Please read through the Equipment List for recommended clothing.

This morning we will fit people to the kayaks. A comfortable and snug fit is important in order to get the most out of the NDK single kayaks. We have singles and doubles available on this trip. In the afternoon we'll set out for an introductory paddle and practice session in the clear, turquoise water of the bay. We hope to work on some basic strokes, play around in the warm water, review assisted rescues and give people a chance get wet. The water is warm (70 degree +) and this is a great time to get comfortable and have fun with the kayaks.

Tonight's lodging at Hotel Yiorgos and dinner are included in the trip. Tonight we will pack up our personal gear in water tight bags. The weather in this region is warm and sunny, but wind and rain are not uncommon. We should expect the best, yet be prepared for the worst. Luggage you don’t need on the trip can be stored at our hotel.

Hotel Yiorgos
9 Harmilou Street, Kos Town, Greece           
Phone: 22420 23297
Email: yiorgos@kos.forthnet.gr           
www.yiorgoshotel.com

Day 2: After breakfast we will load our kayaks and paddle to the Express ferry. We'll carry our kayaks onboard and ride to the island of Leros (approx. 2 hour ride). Italy occupied this island for many years. Taking advantage of its large, deep bays as natural harbors it was the largest naval base in the Mediterranean.

Our stop is called Agia Marina. Here we will unload the kayaks and then paddle out of the harbor. The destination for today is the fishing village of Pandeli with its white houses, mountaintop Crusader fortress and Greek windmills.  We'll enter via the small harbor, parking the kayaks just a couple of yards from the local café.  Greek coffee or a cold drink, as you wish.

After checking into our guest house you can choose to just hang out and enjoy the place or get into the kayaks again and have another skills session. The water is warm and perfect for practicing different rescues or the Eskimo roll.  Our staff enjoys teaching technical skills, this is a great opportunity to further develop your skills. If you are interested you may get assessed for a BCU star rating as well.

Dinner will be served in one of the local restaurants.

Day 3: In the morning after a snack we will take a trek up to the Greek windmills and the Castle of Pandeli, the Crusaders fortress. The road to the fortress winds its way up the mountain. The views are splendid,far below we can even see our kayaks on the beach. Coming down from the fortress we will take "the 370 steps" and cruise among the colorful houses stacked on the hillside.

After a "brunch" we will load the kayaks and venture south along the eastern shores of Leros. Unless the wind is blowing it could be quite hot. We always take breaks along the way, sometimes we just hop out of the kayaks and cool off. You may want to have your snorkeling mask handy to explore the sea life too. We'll be paddling approximately 2-3 hours.

Our destination is the village of Xerokambos and Villa Maria Guest House (one night). Our staff will prepare lunch at Villa Maria taking advantage of the full size kitchens in each unit.

After lunch and a siesta we can paddle more or just explore Xerokambos. Of course, you are always welcome to just enjoy the beach, take a stroll and relax in this wonderful environment.

Dinner will be served at the excellent restaurant owned by Maria and her family.

Day 4: After breakfast we will make the crossing to Kalymnos Island in a series of short hops between smaller islands. Kalymnos, also known as the “Island of the Sponge Divers”, is considered one of the most beautiful islands of the Aegean Sea. The coast is marked by high cliffs, numerous rock gardens and small caves. Today we may challenge our paddling skills and sneak in among the rocks and the surf.

The island of Telendos on the western shore of Kalymnos is our goal for tonight. The distance is approximately 20 kilometer, it might take us 5-7 hours including our lunch break. Telendos is closed to cars and can only be reached by boat. The island has a small, picturesque village with a few tavers, a 16th century chapel above a cliff and swimming beach. We will land our kayaks and stoll to our Guest House for a two night stay.

Dinner will be at our water front tavern with local wine, tzatziki and maybe calamari.

Day 5: Today you can go for a hike up in the mountains or circumnavigate the Island of Telendos. You may also rest and hang out on the beach. As usual, our staff is available for teaching skills, throwing the frisbee, spcializing or exploring the nearby trails.

More wonderful Greek food will be enjoyed tonight in a local restaurant.

Day 6: Yet another day in Paradise! After breaking camp we will set out along the western shore of Kalymnos. A stop at the community of Vlichadia and the Sponge divers museum is a must. This is one of the richest collections of sponges, sea shells, corals and wonderful art collected from ancient ship wrecks in Greece.

Later we will cross the deep bay of Pothya (the largest community and industrial port of Kalymnos) and round Cape Chali. We will continue to paddle up along the eastern shore towards Vathi. The name means "deep" in Greek.  Vathi is a long, narrow fjord that passes below tall cliffs leading into a verdant valley.

At the fjord's end lies our destination: Rina, a small village whose harbor is full of fishing boats and sport yachts.  From our take-out point we'll walk 10 yards to the local guest house where we will stay tonight. They also serve a delicious dessert of yogurt in honey!

Day 7: After breakfast we'll continue with a crossing to the island of Pserimos, located between Kalymnos and the coast of Turkey.  On the way, we'll stop at the tiny uninhabited island of Plati and walk up to a captivating 360° lookout point. 

After coffee, a swim and a rest, we'll continue along the crystal-clear waters of the strait between Plati and Pserimos to the only village on the island.  This is one of the few villages with a sandy beach in a westward-facing bay. This means that that if the winds are favorable, we might have some surfing.  In the winter, the waves are high enough to roll right into the narrow lanes of the village, we'll be able to see pictures of this at Georgio's Taverna.  

Tonight we'll sleep at the local village hotel after a final taverna dinner with local wine, tzatziki and calamari.

Day 8: This is our last day and we hope to paddle back to the island of Kos, where we first got acquainted.  If we're lucky and the wind and waves are at our backs, we'll be able to surf all the way to Kos. At Kos we will unload our kayaks, clean the equipment and stow the kayaks away before we head back to Hotel Yiorgos.

Tonight we will celebrate our expedition with a great traditional dinner and maybe even some Greek music.

Day 9: Breakfast and a final group photo will mark the official ending of our expedition. Please don't plan to leave Kos Island until this morning. If you end up having hours before your departure there is a lot to see and experience in and around Kos town. The Castle of the Knights, the Roman House and the Old town are highly recommended.

General Information:

The price includes: All meals, transportation from day one until the last day, hotels and guest houses (included in the itinerary), storage of luggage, camping gear, all sea kayak related equipment such as kayaks, paddles, spray skirts, Personal Floatation Device (life jacket), first aid kit, repair kit etc.

The price does not include: Airfare to Kos Island, transfer to and from the airport, passport fees, tourist visa fees, airport fees and taxes, accident and travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, medical fees, personal equipment (please refer to our Personal Equipment List), individual services apart from the group, personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls etc.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you protect yourself from unforseen circumstances while traveling. The Travel Guard "Protect Assist" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel.

Location: Kos Island lies east of the Greece mainland. Flights arrive daily from Athens.

Travel: You can fly into Kos Island straight from London, UK. You can also travel via Athens. Make sure you purchase your Athens - Kos ticket along with your international ticket as this can save you money. We recommend that you contact Edmonds Travel for your air travel. "KJ" is our contact person, you can reach her at 1-800-261-3868 Email:kj@edmondstravel.com

Edmonds Travel can also help out with pre-travel arrangements if you like to do some sight seeing in Athens before or after our trip.

Airport fees: Upon returning to the US the Greece government may charge approximately $25.00 per person as a departure fee. This amount must be paid in cash at the airport.

Kayaking: This expedition is for people with previous sea kayaking experience. We will gladly help you further develop your skills during the trip. Our distances could be as many as 15 nautical miles per day. We will stop and take rest breaks, swim and explore and make each day as full and adventurous as possible. We could experience strong winds and building seas at times.

Culture: Greek with international but mostly European visitors.

Language: Greek, but many islanders might speak English.

Topography: Mountainous, dry desert, cliffs as well as lush areas with olive trees.

Currency: Greece is part of the European Union the Euro is their currency. Euros are accepted in restaurants and stores. Major credit cards are also excepted at many places. ATM machines are only available at Kos, they are not availble anywhere else along our route.

Climate: During September & October, daytime temperatures can reach the 90’s (28 degrees Celsius) evening temperatures drop to the low 70's (22 degrees Celsius) with a sea-breeze. Sunscreen is a must. This is also a great time for snorkeling with superb visibility in 75+ degree water. The fishing is great (bring your own hand line or rod) and if you like seafood, this might be your heaven on Earth!

Passport & Tourist visa: You need a passport, your tourist visa will be issued upon arrival.

Medical concerns: A recent tetanus booster is recommended. We only patronize restaurants we trust and your non-restaurant food is carefully prepared to high standards by your leaders. We buy all our drinking water. The tap water is safe to drink though in some places it may taste brackish.

Food: Island food is typically fresh salads, calamari, stuffed wine leaves, tzaziki, feta cheese, lamb and fish. Count on traditional foods as well as international cuisine. Being a vegetarian is easy here.

Last minute assistance: If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Greece, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Europe +46-70-670 11 53 or our office in the States: +1-406-585-5356. Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you.

See You in Greece!

Tim & Lena Conlan
Crossing Latitudes, Inc.